WomenNC’s mission is to lead North Carolina’s young adults in the elimination of injustice against women and girls. Our vision is to raise a generation that will honor women’s human rights. This blog follows the experiences of our talented fellows. Enjoy reading about their journeys!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Leah's Blog #1

A potential focus of my policy brief is on creating safer/better
neighborhoods and communities for those with lower socioeconomic status – with
a specific focus on it’s effect on women of color and their children. I
began doing my research by examining how the environment in North Carolina
affects women’s health. I realized that a woman’s environment consists of
more than just the earth we live on and the air we breath. It was
revealed to me that people living in poorer neighborhoods are at higher risk
for poor health and chronic diseases.

Once I start digging even deeper, I found that women of color in
lower socioeconomic status are more likely to live in these poorer
neighborhoods. These neighborhoods lack the same resources, like availability
to healthy food, less crowded living areas, and more outdoor space for
exercising, that neighborhoods of higher socioeconomic status have.
Specifically, in North Carolina, it was found that the quality of certain
neighborhoods in Durham had a direct effect on the babies being delivered by
women in these areas. Another study in Wake County determined that women
living in disadvantaged neighborhoods were at higher risk of having preterm
births.

There’s no way the North Carolinian government can prevent people from being
living in lower socioeconomic environments. What they do have control
over, however, is the construction and maintenance of these lower income
neighborhoods and communities. North Carolina has a duty to provide
better resources for people living in these areas, especially when the health
of women and their children are at risk.

As a black woman, I’m constantly reminded of my
intersectional place in society. I’m constantly aware of the differences
in my experiences compared to others, solely based on my identity. My
interests in human rights include the interests of women of color.
Recognizing and understanding intersectional identities and the
experiences of the women who face multiple oppressions is key in eradicating
injustices against all women.
That’s why I’m constantly taking an intersectional approach to my research.
My intersectional identity has been key in developing my research focus.

4 comments:

Great post Leah. You have a good grasp of your project. Environment has a major role in women health safety, education, and activism locally and globally.Enjoy your new discoveries! You can find more at this link:http://www.wedo.org/

There is an investigation of military women and spouses having miscarriages while living in military housing in Fayetteville. Something about subpar construction and dangerous materials. Who builds these structures for the government and military and why are they not being regulated?

Nice post. The Triangle's EPA here releases some reports on NC neighborhoods and cities that may be helpful to your research. You've struck a fine balance between researching both women and children in urban development as well as environmental health. Good work!

Leah - I am so interested in learning more about your topic. I have been reading a lot about the "tiny house" phenomenon which has grown here in our area of North Carolina - Do you have an opinion about whether it is a potentially useful model for addressing the housing/neighborhood needs of women? I know they are building them as part of Wellness at Penny Lane http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/in-chatham-county-a-nonprofit-will-build-tiny-homes-for-the-homeless/Content?oid=4663653 - as well as in downtown Raleigh http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article38323821.html. These are for addressing the housing/community needs of different populations, but do you see the model as a useful tool? Really looking forward to your thoughts and recommendations......